Fire-escape



(NQ` Modell) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.v

BR. JOHNSON.

PIRE ESCAPE'.

8 No. 294,879. -Pat/ented Mam. 11, 1884.

(NQ Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

BR-JOHNSON FIRE ESCAPE, vNo. 294,879. Patented' Mar. l1, 1.884.

N4 PETERS, Phmn-L'nmgnphen wnhingum u. C4

rrien.

I EZRA RANDALL JOHNSON, OF BUCHANAN, MICHIGAN.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,879, dated March 1l, 1884.l

Application tiled November 1l), 1883.

To al?, whom, it 111,@ 7/ concern;

Beit known that l, EZRA R. Johnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buchanan, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

- 'Thisinventionrelates to lfire-eseapes,.and

especially to that class of the same which are constructed on the lazy-tongs principle; and the said invention has for its object, rst, to provide a lire-ladder adapted to be operated similarly as other re implements by companies educated in its use; second, to provide the truck containing the ladder with means whereby the entire apparatus may be moved sidewise or adjusted to any required pitch or angle without the necessaryv loss of time required to lower the ladder; third, to provide the lower end of the frame with braces arranged to be extended and held at any point; fourth, to provide means for attaching a line of hose to the upper Asection of the ladder, so that when theladder is raised the hose will be carried up also; fth, to provide a ladder of any desired length, either by lengthening the sections or increasing the number thereof; sixth, to provide a self-supporting ladder arranged to be adjusted -to any height not to exv ceedits own length; seventh, to provide a ladder with a suitable truck mounted on wheels, so that it can be speedily conveyed to 'inafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved fire-escape. Fig. 2 is avertieal sectional view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the extensionbraces. Fig. 4. is a transverse sectional view taken on the line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is aveW of the ladder when folded up. Fig. 6 is aver-- tical sectional View of Fig. l, taken at right (No model.)

angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is abottom plan view of the truck, and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the devices for tightening the ladders.

Like letters refer to corresponding parts in L the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a truck constructed to support the frame B, upon which rests the apparatus. 'The front wheels, C, of said truck may be turned either to the right or left at right angles to the frame, while the rear axle, D, should be divided at the center under the bolster, and by using two iron bars, E, in the form of quadrants, the rear wheels, D, can be thrownbehind the frame at right angles and securely fastened. Thus the truck will be held 'from moving, andthe entire apparatus may be moved sidewise, as hereinafter explained, without the necessary loss of time required to lower the ladder. To both sides of the frame B are pivoted bracesD,

'having prongs E attached thereto to engage with the ground 5 or, in lieu of these detaclr able prongs, the braces may have their ends pointed for the same purpose. Catches or hooks F are secured at the otherend of the frame to receive the prongs or pointed ends of the braces, and thus when the apparatus is folded up the braces will be held up out ofthe way.

G G designate two bars or standards erected upon each side of the frame B, and converging toward their upper ends, where they are suitably secured together by means of metallic plates g.

H designates extensionbraces, formed of two bars, li 7L', connected by metallic plates i', one of the plates being secured to each of the bars and sliding upon the other, so that the bars are adjusted by sliding one upon the other. The upper end of bar h is journaled in a U-shaped casting, I, which is pivoted to the metallic plates g of the bars or standards G G', so that the braces H may be moved either vertically or laterally, while at the lower end of bar h is secured a pointed plate, i, which is arranged to fasten itself in the ground. A spring-pressed catch7 J, is j ournaled in brackets j, projecting from the upper end of bar h', and engages with grooves or serrations Z in a plate, L, secured to the front face of the bar h, said catch being connected by a wire or rope,

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A K, to a hand-lever, )L pivotcd at the lower j usted, the braces h 7L sliding upon each other,

while the catch J engages with the serrated plate L, so that when the adjustment has been effected the two bars will be held toget-her in the extended position by means of the catch J.

W'hen it is desired to i'old the braces in their normal positions, the handlever M is o perated to pull the wire or rope l, and t-hus withdraw the catch from engagement with theserrated plate, and the two bars 71y if may then be folded together parallel to each other, and connected to the frame B by means of a link, N, and hook O, or in any other suitable manner. I have shown two ol' these braces l'I-one on each side, but it will be apparent that they may be multiplied as desired.

l) l designate a pair otverlical bars, connected at their upper ends to the bars G l, and secured at their lower ends to a longitudinally-moving table, Q, on each side of an extension, nl, oi' said table, a metallic covering or plate, n, being attached to the lower ends ofthe bars P l. The table Q slides in an opening, R, oi' the frame lj, the plate n running on the edges of the frame, while to the under side ot' the said table are attached runners S-two at each side-the l'ront ends ot' the runners be ing extended and rounded upward to connect with the top oi' the table, the ladder-sections being secured to the runners, as will be presently described. A cross-bar, T, is secured to the under side ot' the runners, and as the lat ter are moved along with the table the cross-bar abuts against a projection, p, ot' the l'rame, and thus the movement ol' the table will be limited.

U designates a drum or windlass ,journaled in brackets q at' the rear of the frame, and provided with an operating-handle, one ofthe heads ofthe drum being provided with ratchetteeth Ir, having a pawl, s, engaging therewith. A rope or chain, Y, extends i'rom the windlass or drum, around suitable pulleys, attached to the frame B and table Q, to the end ol" the frame opposite from the drum. By the operation of the drum or windlass t-he rope or chain is wound upon the same, so as to draw the table Q, backward, and thus the ladder may be adjusted to various degrees ot'inclination. rllhe pawl s permits the free l'orward operation o' the windlass, but holds the same from moving backward or allopving the return ot' the table to its former position.

XX YY Z Z dcsignatethe members of three (more or less) pairs et' lazytongs, each pair being composed of one continuous ladder,X Y Z, `jointed at the several half-sections, and of a frame, X Y Z', embracing said ladder and correspondingly jointed. rlhe several ladders forni a continuous scries,which may be lengthcned or shortened, as desired, and maybe raised and lowered by ropes and drums, in the inanner hereinafter explained. The lower sect-ion,

X X, of the ladder is secured by a transverse bolt, yu, to the extended ends of the runners S,

and thus the ladders will be moved with the table, as hereinbei'ore explained. rlhe frames and ladders are connected at their ,joints by plates, which permit the top halt'ol' each seetion to fold over the lower hall' ot' the saine section, the joint-plates being secured to the 'l'ranies by rivets or bolts, and 1o the ladders by rods,which serve as rungs. rlhe frames are pivoted to the ladders by rods, which also act as rungs, and suitable washers are interposed to ciect a more secure at tachnlent ot'the parts. Any desired number of the lazy-ton g members may be added to increase the height, and ,ll therefore do not limit myseli'to any particular number.

AL designates a windlass or drum disposed between the uprights l? l, the shalt r 0l' said windlass being provided at each end, outside of the bars l) l", with a gear-wheel, and pinions Ci C, engaging tl1egea1.\vl1ecl on both sides of the same, and journaled between two plates, D2 D, the plate lf being secured to the bars l? l", while the plate D is attached to the plate D2, and covers the gear-wheel and pinions. Each ot' the pinions is provided with suitable operating-hamlles w w on the outside oi' plate D, said handles operating the pinions which impart motion tothe gear-wheels, the latter turning the windlass or drum to cause the winding ot' the rope or chain. A. ratchet-wheel, ll", is iixed on the drinn-shalt fz: between the drum and the bars l. l, and is provided withapawl, l?, engaging therewith, to hold the drum l'rom returning after it has been wound upto the desired degree. Ropes or chains G2 connect at one end to the drum, then pass upward through a pulley-block, y, extending from theladder X, to a pulley, Il, `iournaled at the upper end ol" the bar l? wilhinsuitablelnctallieinclosing-plates. Therope then extends downward through a grooved block, l, through which the pivotal round ol' the lower section ol" the ladderis passed, then upward again until. it reaches the corresponding` pulley, Ht', ofthe bar l", through which the rope is passed and begins its descent. As it passes downward, the rope extends through a pulley-block, s, connecting with the ladder in a similar manner to pulley-block y, and reaches the drum again, to which itis connected. The

rope G on the opposite side of the apparatus is arranged in a similar manner to the rope G`, the pulleys, pulley-blocks, and grooved block being duplicated on both sides ot' the apparatus, so that when the drum is operated each side of the ladder will be raised equally and lowered in a similar manner. lower half-section ot' the frame X, near the joint, is attached a shaft, J2, carrying spools a at each end, a U-shaped lever, 1&2, being pivoted by the shalt between the spools, and provided with a bent handle, l?, extending out from one end of the lever. An operating-lever, M2, is pivoted within the Ushaped lever,

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.from the same.

and is provided with a'forward extension, N 2, at the outer end of whichis pivoted a bar, O2, which acts as a detent. A bar, P2, slotted at b2to clasp and move longitudinally on the shaft J2, is provided at the lower end with a handle, c2, as a means for operating the same, and at the upper end is attached to a projection, d2, of the detent-bar O2, outside of the pivotal attachment of the latter to the extensions N2; A rackbar, Q2, having the teeth upon the upper face, is provided with a hook, f2, cngaging the upper rung of the lower half-sea tion of ladder X, the other end of the rackbar extending through the U-shaped lever K and between the extensions N2, the Ushaped lever being thrown toward the front end of the rack-bar, while the detent-bar is thrown By operating the lever M2 the detent-bar O2 engages, by means of a notch in its front end, with the teeth on the rackbar, so as to push the said rack-bar backward and cause the front end of the lever K2 to drop into the succeeding notch of the rack-bar. This operation can be repeated until lthe said bar has drawn the ladder X together sufficiently to 'tighten the apparatus and prevent any sudden collapsing. By the operation of handle L2 the U -shaped lever is withdrawn from engagement with the rack-bar, and then by sliding the bar P2 upward the detent-bar O2 is also raised from the rackbar, and thus the tightening devices may be disengaged when it is desired to fold the ladder to the position shown in Fig. 5.

R2 designates a bar provided with metallic plates r2 r2, secured at right angles thereto, said .Y

plates having hooks s2 .at their upper ends to catch over the topmost rung of the upper ladder, and their lower ends bifurcated or forked, as at t2, to clasp a lower rung of the same ladder. This construction affords means for readily detaching the barB2 from its position, and also serves to secure the same rmly from displacement when the hose attachment, hereinafter explained, is in course of operation. A plate, m2, is attached to the upper face of the bar R2, near the center, and a U-shaped plate or casting, U2, is journaled in the plate m2, so as to turn freely around in any direction, and is provided with a lever, V2, pivoted therein, said lever having a pivoted clamp, W2. arranged near its center, and having its rear end enlarged, as shown. A nozzle,Y2,'of a line of hose rests upon the enlarged end of the lever withina groove, n2, the clamp V2' tting over. the front end ofthe nozzle, and the hose extending from said nozzle over the groove n2' and downward toward the ground, where it is connected with any suitable source of water-supply.

Z2 Z2 designate ropes attached to thefront end of the lever V2 and passing through pulleys X2,journaled at each end of the bar B2, said ropes then extending 'downward toward the ground. The operation of this hose attachment is as follows: Then the ladders are m raised, the hose attachment, having been applied to the upper ladder of the series, is carried up with the same, so that it is in position for operation. By drawing on the ropes Z2 the lever is turned around, so as to cause the hose-nozzle to direct a stream ofwater at Yany point desired, the lever having a universal movement, so as to be capable of turning either upward or downward, backward or forward. It will be seen that the hose-nozzle will be held securely in the groeven2 by means -of the clamp W2, and is adapted to be detached as desired. AGuy-lines S2 T2 are attached to the upper ladder and extend over suitable pulleys to the ground, said guy-lines being arranged to hold the upper sections from sway ing to and fro.

Supposing .the ladder to be folded and in the position shown in Eig. 5, the manner of operating the same is as follows: Uncoil the guy-lines S2 T2, and unhook the-bottom braces and fix the points firmly in the ground. Then move the entire apparatus forward sufficiently to hold it securely in proper position. Adjust the extension-braces so as to give the most support lto the upper part of the ladder. By operating the windlass or drum A2 the ladders are raised to the desired height, and then by means of the rack-bar and its operating devices the ladders are tightened and held sesure in their raised position. If it is desired to adjust the ladder to any desired angle, vthe IOC self-supporting in its construction, and the mode of operation is easily learned. It possesses many other advantages which will suggest themselves to a critical public, and which need not be recited here; but it would be well to state that, being mounted on wheels, thc vapparatus can be readily and speedily conveyed to any point where its use might be required, and by the peculiar manner of attaching the wheels to the frame the ladder canbe easily moved sidewise to reach different parts of the building without lowering the ladder.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1 In a fire-escape, the extension-braces, comprising bars connected together and slid ing upon each other, a catch at the upper end of one of the bars, engaging with teeth or serrations on the other, and ahand-lever pivoted ITO at the lower end of one'of the bars, and conto the ladders, runners attached to the under side of the table, and having a crossbar se cured thereto, a projection on the under side ot' the frame, against which the cross-bar is arranged to abut, and means for operating the table, as and for the purpose set forth.

In a fire-escape, the ladders constructed on the lazy-tongs principle, in combination with a rack-bar attached at one end with one side of the ladders, and a lever pivotcd to the opposite side of the lazy-tongs, and engaging with the 1ack-bar, as set forth.

et. In a lire-escape, the ladders constructed on the lazy-tongs principle, in combination with a rack-bar, a lever adapted to engage with the saine, and adetent-bar arranged to be either lifted freni the rack-bar or engaged therewith to cause the forward movement of the saine, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a tire-escape, the ladders constructed on the lazy-tongs principle, in combination with a 1acl;-bar, a lever adapted to engage the sa1ne,adetentbar pivoted at its end to an o] )erating-]ever, and a lifting-bar attached to the side of the detent-bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a tire-escape, the ladders constructed on the lazy-tongs principle, in combination with a frame and a sliding table, a druin or windlass provided with suitable operating means, a grooved block on the sides ot' the ladders, and a rope orrehain passing from the drum, over suitable pulleys, to the grooved block, as and for the purpose set forth.

T. In a iire-escape, the ladders constructed on the lazy-tongs principle, in combination with a frame and a sliding table, a pair of bars on each side, carrying pulleys at their upper ends, grooved blocks on the sides of the ladders adjacent to the pulleys, a druni or windlass provided with suitable operating nieans,

and a rope or chain connecting the drum with the pulleys and grooved blocks, as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In a fire-escape, the ladders constructed substantially explained, in combination with a franie anda sliding table, a pair of bars ou cach side, attached to the table and carrying pulleys attheirupperends, grooved blocks on the sides ot` theladders adjacentto the pulleys, a rope or chain connecting with the pulleys and.grooved blocks, a drinn or windlass to which the rope or chain is attached, a pawl and ratchet secured to the windlass or drum, and a set of gear-wheels and pinions arranged to operate the said windlass, as and .for the purpose set forth.

9. In a. fire-escape, the ladders constructed substantially as explained, and provided with suitable gnydines, in combination with aframe and a table sliding` in said frame, a pair of standards attached to the sides of the frame and converging toward their upper ends, a pair of bars secured at their upper ends to the said converging standards, and at their lower ends to the sliding table, pulleys journaled atthe upper ends ofthe bars, groovcd lblocks on the sides of the ladders adjacent to the pnlleys, a rope or chain connecting with the pulleys and grooved blocks and attached to a drinn or windlass, a pawl and ratchet secured to the latter, and mechanism for transmitting motion to the drum or windlass, as set forth.

l0. In a lire-escape, a bar secured to the upper ladder, and carrying a levenhaving a universal inoveinent, a hose fitted to said lever, and cords, also attached to the lever and passing through suitable pulleys to the ground, as set forth.

1l. In afire-eseape, a bar attached to the upper ladder, a Ushaped plate j ournaled in said bar, a lever pivoted in said plate. and having a hose-nozzle attached thereto, and cords con necting with said lever, and arranged to operate the saine in the manner set forth.

l. In a fire-escape, a bar provided with plates which hook at their upper ends over the top rung of the upper ladder. and encircle or clasp at their lower ends one of the lower rangs, a Ushaped plate iournaled in said har, a lever pivoted in the U -shaped plate, and having a hosenozzle fitted thereto, a clamp for holding the nozzle in place, and cords connectA ing with the said lever, and arranged to operate the same in the nianuer set forth.

13. In a fire-escape, the truck having its front wheels arranged to be thrown at right angles thereto, the rear wheels beingr divided, as shown, and connected by quadrant-shaped plates, which perinit the rear wheels to be thrown behind the frame or truck, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aliixed iny signature in presence of two witnesses.

EZRA RANDALL JOHNSON.

XVitiiesses:

DoUGL \s Svnvns'rnn, RICHARD V. JLARK.

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